Oxygen tent canopy



Feb. 14, 1950 G. R. FAIRLAMB OXYGEN TENT CANOPY Filed Oct. 28, 1947ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14,- 1959 OXYGEN TENT CANOPY George R. Fairlamb,Pelham, N. Y., assignor to General Hospital Supply Service, ,Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 28, 1947Serial No. 782,548

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to oxygen tent canopies and to means forsuspending the same over the patients bed.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved suspension meanswhich not only supports the canopy so that it hangs more evenly, butalso distributes the hanging stresses more evenly so that the canopy isless likely to be damaged in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes ofillustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the canopy suspended from theconventional boom.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, also in perspective.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the hanger, also in perspective.

Referring to the drawings, the canopy, like other canopies now in use,comprises a rectangular top panel I having a voluminous depending skirt2. In use, the top panel is suspended above the patient and the skirthangs down to form an exclosure surrounding the patient, the lowerportions of the skirt being usually tucked under the mattress and bedcovers so as to substantially seal the interior of the canopy in whichan airconditioned atmosphere of the desired oxygen content ismaintained. Such canopies are usually made of thin, transparent, plasticsheet material.

Such canopies have ordinarily been supported on a stand having anadjustable arm or boom extending horizontally across the patients bed.In the past, this boom has carried supporting devices in the form ofhooks which engaged tabs secured to the canopy at the corners and atintervals along the edges of the rectangular top panel. These tabs wereusually provided with metal grommets, and while these (prevented tearingof the tabs, the tabs frequently pulled loose from the canopy, and indoing so frequently ripped or tore the canopy itself. Furthermore, dueto the fact that the tabs were spaced at intervals and that the hangingstresses were seldom applied evenly, and lacking any means of spreadingthe top panel, the surface thereof frequently assumed irregular shapescontaining grooves or cavities in which condensate resulting from thechilled interior atmosphere may collect.

According to the present invention, I extend a plurality of strips 3 ofmaterial across the top panel and secure the two side portions 4, 5 ofeach strip to the top panel, leaving an intermediate portion unsecuredto form a tubular passageway 5 extending across the top panel to receivethe hanger hereinafter described. As shown in the drawings three suchstrips have been used, although more may be used if desired. The plasticsheet material of which the canopies are made is usually thermoplasticand capable of being heat sealed, and by making the strips of similarmaterial and heat sealing the side portions 4, 5 of each strip to thetop panel, a very tight bond may be secured. However, suitable adhesivesmay be used if desired.

Each hanger comprises a piece of wire bent to substantially rectangularshape and having two horizontally extending arms I, B permanentlyconnected at one end by a short vertical portion 9. A similar shortvertical portion I0 depending from the upper horizontal arm terminatesin a hook I I adapted to receive and hold the free end of the lowerhorizontal arm, much in the manner of a large safety pin. The upperhorizontal arm is provided with a loop l2 of a size to fit over theconventional boom. in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.

In use, the lower horizontal arms 8 of the hangers are inserted in thetubular passageways and the free ends are held by the hooks I I. Theloops of the hangers are then placed on the boom 113. Since the arms 8extend across the top panel and engage the passageways throughout theirlength, it will be seen that the stresses are distributed over a largearea so that there is less danger of tearing the canopy. Furthermore,the arms 53 keep the top panel taut and even, so that the irregularshapes and pockets resulting from the usual method of suspension areeliminated.

It will be understood that the herein described suspension means may beapplied to other articles having a top panel and depending skirt, suchas wardrobe bags for storing clothes.

It will also be understood that the invention may be variously modifiedand embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Suspension means for oxygen tent canopies and the like having a flatrectangular top panel and a skirt depending therefrom, comprising aplurality of strips extending transversely across the entire width ofsaid top panel at spaced intervals, each of said strips having parallelside portions sealed to said top panel leaving an intermediate unsealedportion forming a straight tubular passageway extending across theentire width of said top panel, and a hanger for each strip, each ofsaid hangers having a straight arm extending through one of saidpassageways, entering at one end and emerging at the other end, andengaging said passageway throughout its length.

2. Suspension means for oxygen tent canopies and the like having a flatrectangular top panel and a skirt depending therefrom, comprising aplurality of strips extending transversely across the entire width ofsaid top panel at spaced intervals, each of said strips having [parallelside portions sealed to said top panel leaving an intermediate unsealedportion forming a straight tubu- 15 lar passageway extending across theentire width of said top panel, and a hanger for each strip, each ofsaid hangers being of rectangularshape having upper and lower horizontalarms con- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Sept. 4, 1945

